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MS 1020

(3)

f. Rapid benefit depletion. When an individual uses a large portion of their benefits in a short period of time upon receiving them. This indicates purchasing food items for another household or buying food items with the intent to sell for cash.

g. All day spending. When a pattern of purchases at the same store throughout the day is identified during the review of the EBT transactions. This indicates that the individual is allowing someone outside of their benefit group or not an authorized representative access to use the EBT card to make purchases.

h. An excessive number of invalid PIN entries or attempted purchases with insufficient funds. These indicate the individual is allowing someone outside of their benefit group or not an authorized representative access to use the EBT card to make purchases.

Example 1: During a claim interview, an individual acknowledges selling their EBT card with $200 of available SNAP benefits for $100 by providing their PIN to an individual outside of a local discount store. A review of the EBT transactions confirms the date and the amount of benefits on the card. The actions by both the individual selling their benefits and the individual purchasing the benefits are trafficking. The claim amount is $200.00 and an IPV is pursued against the recipient and other individual(s) who made the purchase, if identified. If the recipient signs and dates form FS-80A (TR) or an Intentional Program Violation (IPV) is established by an ADH, use disqualification code Trafficking - Administrative Finding.

Example 2: A fraud hotline report is received from OIG alleging that a recipient who has $400 of benefits on the card sold $100 of SNAP benefits for $50. It is the worker’s responsibility to confirm that the actual transactions support the allegations in the fraud hotline report. The worker should identify all transactions that support the allegation. A review of transactions on the EBT website confirms the date and amount of the reported transaction and supports the allegation that trafficking occurred. The amount of the claim is the amount of benefits trafficked as verified per transaction. During the interview to discuss the transactions, if the recipient admits to the violation that benefits were sold signs and dates form FS-80A (TR), or an IPV is established by an ADH, use disqualification code Trafficking - Administrative Finding.

Example 3: If items purchased through a store credit account are non- eligible items, the use of the EBT card or benefits on the card